Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

William the Hippo!

William the Hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is kind of the unofficial mascot of the MET – probably because he’s so cute!

I always liked William because as a kid I was obsessed with the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― that was in β€œIt’s a Small World” at Disney World! The first time I ever went to Disney at 4 years old I went with my Nonno and Nonna and I’ll never forget riding β€œIt’s a Small World” together and seeing the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―!


William was made in the first part of the 12th Dynasty. In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil! William has lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile and rebirth.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sphinx of Thutmosis III

Here is a small quartzite Sphinx of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. This little statue is interesting for a couple of reasons. One of which is the way that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is commonly sculpted – he usually has a very child-like face. This is significant because it is thought that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was shown in a child-like way to visually justify the fact that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was co-ruler and then eventually the sole pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Another interesting point is the inscription, which reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓏠𓆣) π“Œ»π“‡Œ. β€œThe great God, Menkhepra, beloved.”

The part of the inscription where Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– name should be, has been erased. The inscription should read: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓏠𓆣) π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– π“Œ»π“‡Œ β€œThe great God, Menkhepra, beloved of Amun.”

Why was Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– name erased? Well, we can thank Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– for that! When Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– banned the worship of the traditional pantheon, he tried to have Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– name erased everywhere!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Quartz Lion

When I was little I absolutely loved this stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ (quartz) statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› cub because it reminded me of Simba from The Lion King! Only the main features of the lion cub are seen, but it is clear that this is a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›. This cute little lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› is from the First Dynasty! During the Pre-Dynastic through Early Dynastic periods, statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of animals were usually smaller. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ though is almost like a transition piece towards the larger and grander statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of the later dynasties.

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Egyptian Artifacts

False Door in the Mastaba of Perneb

PernebΒ π“‰π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ƒ€ was a palace administrator during the 5th Dynasty, and he had his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ built at MemphisΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–Β (modern day Saqqara). This type of tombΒ π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰Β is commonly referred to today as a mastaba, but in ancient Egyptian times they were referred to as a β€œHouse of Eternity 𓉐𓆖.” The word β€œmastaba” is Arabic for the word β€œbench,” and these tombsΒ π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ got their modern name π“‚‹π“ˆ– due to their rectangular structure and flat roofs!Β 

During the Old Kingdom, the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and the palace were pretty much the center of the government/society, soΒ PernebΒ π“‰π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ƒ€Β held quite an important role, hence the exquisite tombΒ π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰!Β 

I am standing inside the mastaba 𓉐𓆖 ofΒ PernebΒ π“‰π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ƒ€ at the MET in front of his False Door! I will never forget seeing it for the first time with my Nonno – the first time I saw it, there was no glass on the reliefs! Seeing this for the first time will always be one of my greatest memories! I love being inside the mastaba 𓉐𓆖 because I feel like I am in Egypt –Β π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β I love being in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ!

False Doors are an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. False Doors served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and there is a spot at the base of the False Door where offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 are meant to be left. 

The False Door acted as a link between the land of the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ and the land of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the soul π“‚“ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 could travel between the two lands 𓇿𓇿 through the False Door. They are also known as β€œka π“‚“ doors” or β€œsoul π“‚“ doors.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Thutmosis III

This striking statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the great generalΒ π“€Žπ“¦, PharaohΒ ThutmosisΒ III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is hidden away in one of the minor galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I find this piece to be so beautiful π“„€ because the whiteΒ π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³Β limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (it honestly looks like marble to me – but marble is metamorphosed limestone)Β contrasts so well with the blackΒ π“†Žπ“…“Β paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on the nemesΒ π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄Β head cloth and the eyes 𓁹𓏦. Some redΒ π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…ŸΒ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 can even still be seen on the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 that is onΒ ThutmosisΒ III’s 𓅝𓄠𓋴 forehead!

Thutmosis III π“…π“„ π“‹΄ is one of Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– most successful pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. He was only three 𓏼 years old when his father Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– passed away, and was a co-regent with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ before she completely took over the throne. During her rule π“‹Ύ, Thutmosis III π“‡³π“ π“†£ was a member of the military and gained valuable experience that allowed him to be such a successful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. He ruled π“‹Ύ Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– for 54 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“½ years, and was a very accomplished general π“€Žπ“¦, having led troops into battle himself. Thutmosis III π“…π“„ π“‹΄ has been rumored to have never lost a battle! 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was found during excavations of Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. The face of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is not the original, it is a cast; the original face is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! The MET then made a cast of the torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and that is now at the Egyptian Museum as well! So each museum has a real part of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and a cast of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! The face and torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 were not found at the same time, hence why they ended up in different places! 

This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty, c. 1479–1425 B.C.E. (New Kingdom). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

White Cross-Lined Ware Pottery with Hippo

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to travel all the way back to predynastic EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β (c.Β 3500-3300Β B.C.E.)! More specifically, this piece is dated to the Naqada II Period (also known as the Gerzean Period), which is a period of accelerated development in art and culture. This time period is when more elaborate pottery began to appear and people started to get buried in larger and more elaborate tombsΒ π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ! This was all before the first 𓏃 writingΒ π“Ÿπ“›π“₯Β even appeared, which was during Naqada III (3200-3000 B.C.E.).

This piece of pottery π“ π“ˆ–𓇋𓏋 is commonly referred to as β€œwhite cross-lined ware” by archaeologists. Flinders Petrie, the first Egyptologist to try and date predynastic pottery, described white cross-lined ware pottery π“ π“ˆ–𓇋𓏋 as being a reddish-brown or dark red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ color that was decorated with white π“Œ‰π“†“𓇳 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱π“ͺ or geometric drawings. White cross-lined ware pottery π“ π“ˆ–𓇋𓏋 is usually only found in Upper Egypt 𓇓, near Abydos π“‹π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– and Naqada. 

I absolutely love this piece of pottery π“ π“ˆ–𓇋𓏋 because the cute hipposπ“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ that are on it!  The hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is one of the animals that appears frequently in early Egyptian imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 probably because the people of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί needed to always be on their guard in regards to hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―𓏦 since they could dominate both the land 𓇾𓇾 and the water π“ˆ—. 

Even as ancient Egyptian culture evolved, Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and revered π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺΒ hipposΒ π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ due to their strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and power. WhileΒ hipposΒ π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were the most feared animals along the Nile, images 𓅱𓏏𓅱π“ͺ of them could offer protectionΒ π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ, such as in the form of amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺΒ which evolved much later.Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts

“Nefer” Broad Collar

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful this is! Look at thisΒ beautiful π“„€ broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹!Β 

The broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ was the necklace of choice by both the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, and the nobility/wealthy! This broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ is unique because traditionally they were made with faience π“‹£π“ˆ–𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads while this particular broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ is made of gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ and glass π“‹£π“ˆ–𓏏𓏸𓏼! Fun fact: glass and faience are the same word in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: π“‹£π“ˆ–𓏏𓏸𓏼!

If you look closely at this broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹, you will see a familiar hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ symbol: π“„€! The β€œheart and windpipe 𓄀” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound β€œnfr” which in modern times we pronounce like β€œnefer.” The word β€œnfr 𓄀” translates to β€œbeautiful” or β€œgood” and is a very popular symbol not only in hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ phrases such as titles, but also in names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦! 

So basically, this broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ is just saying β€œbeautiful 𓄀” over and over and over again! Maybe the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ was supposed to bring good π“„€ wishes to the wearer, or just make them  even more beautiful π“„€! Isn’t that what nice jewelry is all about, even in modern times?!

The MET has this piece titled β€œBroad Collar of Nefer Amulets” and it belonged to one of the foreign wives of pharaoh π“‰π“‰» Thutmosis III π“‡³π“ π“†£, as that is the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ the piece was found in. This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1504–1450 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Isis Feeding Horus as a Baby

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.  

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦, stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, and even as small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time. 

While my Nonno loved Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ like this in museums whenever I visit! 

Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and a user of magicΒ π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ. Β As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. Β Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 holding a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.Β 

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Blog Egyptian Artifacts

“Wonderful Things”

β€œWonderful Things.” 

That quote is from Howard Carter when he first peered into the tombΒ π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰Β of TutankhamunΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“. Honestly, every time I walk through a museum all I can think is β€œWonderful Things” – I feel like that sums up my feelings pretty well!Β 

While I have posted this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 before, it is one of my absolute favorites and one of the many wonderful things that I have seen! This is my Nonno and I with Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 at the British Museum! I am posting this again because today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 is the 100 𓏲 year anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰! 

As a child (and even now) I love the story about howΒ Tutankhamun’sΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“Β tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰Β was discovered! The funerary mask, AnubisΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 shrine, cartouche box, and so many of the other artifacts in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ completely fascinated me and definitely played a part in me becoming so interested in ancient EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β as a child. I have my Nonno to thank for telling me about TutankhamunΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“Β and for encouraging my love and fascination with Egyptian history!Β 

In this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 is wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄, false beard, and broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. These are all very common things for pharaohs π“‰π“‰»π“¦ to wear to represent themselves as pharaoh π“‰π“‰», which Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 felt he needed to do in order to legitimize his rule π“‹Ύ. The bottom part of the statue is π“π“…±π“π“€Ύ decorated with lotus flowers π“†Έπ“ͺ and papyrus reeds π“ π“ˆ–π“Ž›π“†°. 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Gold Ring of Tutankhamun

In order to commeorate 100 𓏲 year anniversary of the discovery of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, let’s take a look at some artifacts related to Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓!

This gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ ring π“‚π“ˆ–π“π“‹ͺ (the one in the back of the photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏), which was also used as a seal, has the throne name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 on it! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

In the middle of the ring π“‚π“ˆ–𓏏π“‹ͺ, we see the throne name of Tutankhamun: π“‡³π“†£π“¦π“ŽŸ (Nebkheperure). Broken down, the name means:

𓇳 – Ra

𓆣𓏦 – Forms/Manifestations

π“ŽŸ – Lord 
So β€œ

Nebkheperure π“‡³π“†£π“¦π“ŽŸβ€ means β€œLord of the Manifestations of Ra.”

On either side of Nebkheperure π“‡³π“†£π“¦π“ŽŸ, there are other hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ too! 

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› – Eternity

π“ŽŸ Lord

π“Œ» – Beloved

So the full inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ reads: β€œ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›π“ŽŸπ“Œ» Beloved of Amun, Lord of Eternity.” 

Something really interesting about the inscriptionΒ π“Ÿπ“›π“₯Β is that the sun disc 𓇳 symbol in the word β€œeternityΒ π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›β€ has the Ankh π“‹Ή or symbol for β€œLife” with it, which was a common way to write β€œeternityΒ π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›β€ during the reign π“‹Ύ of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–! It’s meant to represent the Ankhs π“‹Ήπ“‹Ήπ“‹Ή that usually appeared in depictions of the AtenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.Β